Independent film fans will be excited to know that the Sundance Film Festival announced its first batches of titles for its 2013 edition. Set to screen in Park City this January are new films from such noted indie filmmakers such as Andrew Bujalski (Funny Ha Ha), Matt Porterfield (Putty Hill), and Lynn Shelton, whose Your Sister's Sister won the Best Ensemble Performance at this week's Gotham Awards. As with all Sundance Film Festivals, there's a distinct collection of more unrecognizable names, leaving film fans excited by the possibility of seeing works from the next great independent filmmakers. “The films, both documentary and narrative, selected for our 2013 Festival have a particular immediacy and fearlessness to them,” said Sundance Film Festival President John Cooper, “showing us that independent film is as vibrant, creative and relevant as ever.”

More Sundance selections will be announced in the coming days. For now, check out Indiewire for the full list of Sundance's sidebars: Spotlight (focusing on films from other festivals this year), Park City at Midnight (focusing on horror, comedy or both), and New Frontier (focusing on experimental).

Milos Forman to be honored by DGA

Less than a week before the Directors Guild of America announces its year-end nominees for the DGA Awards, on Wednesday it was revealed that Milos Forman will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award. The Czech director has previously won the DGA Award for One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest and Amadeus. Fellow director and DGA President Taylor Hackford said in a statement, “It is a tremendous privilege to present the DGA Lifetime Achievement Award for feature film to one of the greatest filmmakers of our time, Milos Forman. No matter what subject or genre he tackles, Milos finds the universality of the human experience in every story.” The 65th annual DGA Awards will be held on February 2.

Tony Scott: A Moving Target

On Wednesday, MUBI revealed its first “movement” in a brilliantly inventive critical commemoration of the late Tony Scott. Created by Daniel Kasman and Gina Telaroli, the project is described as a “critical exquisite corpse” meant to dissect the “strange but very present connective tissue” of Scott's work. For any fans of Tony Scott's films, or anyone looking for a unique presentation of methodical but passionate criticism, this is a must-read. Included are essays by Ignatiy Vishnevetsky on Taking Pelham 1 2 3, and an upcoming piece on Domino by Film Society's Robert Koehler.

Silviu Purc&abreve;rete's Somewhere in Palilula

The State of Romanian Cinema

As Film Society's Making Waves: New Romanian Cinema series is in full swing (through December 5), Oana Sanziana Marian has published a disconcerting piece at Indiewire about the state of Romanian film culture. After an undemocratic restructuring of the Romanian Culturual Institute, Romanian filmmakers and cinephiles around the world face the worrisome prospect of losing what's been a steady stream of brilliant films now known as the Romanian New Wave. Marian calls for moviegoers to keep seeking out Romanian film, as she says, “visibility is a filmmaker’s practical currency, ensuring opportunities and funding for future films… visibility, literally, is what makes the film a reality. In effect, a film that nobody sees doesn’t exist.” To hear more about this issue, come to one of our two FREE panels on Creative Freedom Through Cinema in Making Waves.

The Film Society of Lincoln Center celebrates American and international cinema, to recognize and support new filmmakers, and to enhance awareness, accessibility and understanding of the art among a broad and diverse film going audience.